Balancing clamp



Dec. 14 1926.

C. C. BRINTON BALANCING CLAMP Filed July 14. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l .Tllllll llllllll mvENToR Char/e5 C. Br/non.

WITN SSES:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR l Char/e; C. 3f/mon.

ATTRNi-:Y

c. c. BRINTONy BALANCING CLAMP /Filed July 14, 1925 Dec. 14 1926.

WITNESSES:

Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,610,487 PATENT orrica CHARLES C. BRINTON, 0F EDGEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING- COMPANY, A CORPORATION OIF PENNSYLVANIA.

BALANCING CLAMP.

Application led July 14, 1923. Serial No. 651,471.

My invention relates to balancing devices, more especially `to an apparatus which is adapted to determine the quantity of unbalanced mass in rotating bodies, such as the rotors or armatures of dynamo electric machines.

It is among theobjects of this invention to provide a balancing device of simple, compact structure which may be readily and conveniently mounted on the shaft of a large rotor, which shall be capable of determining within practical limits the amount of unbalance in such rotor while subjected to angular motion and which shall be adapted to automatically adjust its counter-balancing mechanism to offset the unbalanced mass of the body being tested to bring the same into dynamic balance.

In the balancing of large rotors, it is necessary for the purpose of convenience and the saving of time and labor to utilize a balancing device which is adjustable for the purpose of determining the amount of unbalance in the rotor or body being tested. One. form of adjusting mechanism consists of a clamp member ofthe same general construction and design as a turnbuckle adapted to be secured to the shaft of a rotatable body by a plurality of set screws which may be adjusted to shift the center of gravity of the body or frame portion of the clamp relative to the aXis of rotation to counter-balance the dynamic unbalanced mass of the rotor for determining the relative amount thereof to be removed or added, as required.

My present invention is directed to a balancing device 0f this general type comprising a clamping frame having a pair of oppositely disposed radial arms which cajrry adjustable Weights, one of which is adapted to automatically adjust itself while the body being tested is subjected to angular motion. The adjustable weights are further adapted to indicate their respective locations on the radial arms which determines the radius of displacement from which the correction weight to offset the imbalance of the rotor is calculated. Y

In the accompanying drawing constitutf ing a part hereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a counter-balancing device mounted on. the end of a rotor shaft -and embodying the principles of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof,

F ig. 3 is a side elevational View of a rotor journaled in suitable bearing supports and having a motor for rotating the same and showing the relative position of the counterl balancing device when mounted for testing imbalance in the rotatable body, and

Fig. 4 is an end elevational viewof the mechanism illustrated in Fig. S.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the counter-balancing device comprises a pair `of Vclamping frame portions 1 and 2 provided with bearing pads 3 adapted to engage a member of circular contour such as the shaft 4 of a rotor or the like. The members 1 and 2 are joined by a pair of hinged bolts 5 which are pivotally mounted at the joints 6 and f7, respectively. The bolts 5 are provided with threaded end portions 8 adapted to receive a plurahty of ring nuts 9 and 10 to properly adjust the spacev of the frame portions 1V and 2 in accordance with the diameter of the shaft upon which they are mounted. A pair indicators 22 adapted to co-operate withv graduations 23 on the arms to indicate the positions of the respective weights. The weights 2OV and 21 are further provided with threaded portions engaging the screws 17 and 18 so that when the latter rotate, the.

weights move radially relatively to the center of the shaft 4. The screw threaded shaft 17 is connected through a train of gears 25 to a motor 26 mounted on a pad 27 secured to the clamping` frame 1, the motor being connected through a plurality of terminal leads 28 to a pair of brushes 29 which are adapted to engage a plurality of collector rings 88 -mounted on the frame portion of the journal supports in which the motor 4 is mounted.

Referring to Fig. 3, the counter-balancing device is utilized in the" following manner. i rotor 30, such as an armature for a dynarings connected ,to suitable source oli' elec -'icaleaengy (not slioyvif f journal port., ns o; the pedestals 3l are provided with spring mounted bearings, one ,o'twliieh A e. dial indicatnig` device yassociated therewith to"indicate Vthe' degree oi' ,vibratini cansed by the centrifugal force ex rted by tlm unbal' ncedniass ofthe rotatin has e `operation ,of this device is brieily as foil sz Assnniingftliat the yrotor illis in a sV .e ot' ijinhalanc'e andl that the journnl in pedestal is Supperted by the spring inonnwed 'ing el-O'so that if kthe rotor be rotated ,at "a lspeed that ,colrrespdnds .to the ing'sp 1ings, the rotor Will oscillate due to l tlie unbalancec imass and this oscillat'en will greatly accentuated. A marker is held ngainst the shaft when it is oscillating at the critical p'eritid fand a. `marlr isI produced thereon. The point vont imbalance .will be 906 nvvay in a directionopposfite to that oit' the rotation from Iie center of the The coun er-balancing nieilianisixn is located on the shaft'Li'.ivi'tli the arinl l1 carrying tlie linotor vactuated adjustable Weight 2O at 'the iiOiH 0f iinbslailqf UThe motor is' then energized Vto actuate the rotor l() causinglit ,to attain a definite angular velocityand the motor l2,6"is simultaneoiisly energized to' `cause the screw sliaiit 1:7 to 'lie actuated through the gear train 25 and'motor 26. The dial indicator il indicates'aY degree otvibration in the pedestal meinbersO slet /up by ythe ,centrifugal force oi' the unbalanced mass in the rotor 30 and this vibration'gradnally decreases until the adjusting Weight 2OA has reached such position on the sc iejv member 17 as to bring the principal Iaxis of inertia in eoincidencewith the agrisoli rotation 4of therotor 30. i

lVhen ythis is achieved, `the dial indicator il )villr lindicate a ),ninimninI vibration and the motor 26 is delenergized to iig; .the position of the counter-balancing Weight 20. 'Ehe'i'o'tor 30 is then brought to a standstill and tliebperator ,reads tlieposition of the WeightO by the location of its` indicator 22 on the 2ginduations s3 oi the arm 1l. llhis is noted and the counter-balancing mechanism niay't-licn be shifted in an angular direction on either side and the procedure of balancing is then repeated to" determine the exact location oi the correction Weight which Will be at the point of maximum unbalance l,as indicated by thewvveiglit 20.

rllhe counter-balancing mechanism is adapted to be adjusted or various sizes oi: rotor shafts and the Weight 2l on the arm 12 is manually adjustable to obtain an initial balance of the traine portions in various pos Aions depending upon lthe sizes of the rotor shafts.

The Weights 20 and 2l imay be locked in position lby the thnmbscijeivs 'lille brush holders 2Q cgt' the brushes .2,9 lare likewise mgljustabic to various positions on the collector rings 38 Which .vary 4with theadjustnient or tlieclaniping lE inne pontions l and lt evident from the above description ot' my invent on that. a balancing device ijnade in accordance ltherewithrjfirovides a simple and efficient means for deteriknlii ng the amount oi unbalance in Jrotors. and the like in ,an eXpedient and inexpensive manner. The automatic adjustment of lthe counter balancing `weight ,obviates the .cut and -trial methods'previously necessary for deter-inining `the .quantity oi' kdie nnbalanced massaud die compact construction of theA device permits oi" simplicity in handling, which ,-1`;e i t ly Areduces the 'ti'nc lcquiiedhi'or rconducting such tests. v i i i` itlidugh l have ,described a specific einjbodiinent'ojf my invention, it will (obvious to those skilled in the .ai-t that various inediiicatio'ns may .be made in the .details of construction WithoutI ,departing from the .pi-inciples herein Vset forth. i i A I claim .as my invention:

l. connterbalancing ydevice rvcomprising a clamping frame having a plurality4 of radial arms thereon, movable ,Weights lin said arms an'd power'operated means for ing one of saidaveights relative Eto the center of gravity ,of said frame.

AA`countenbalancing device comprising a clam )ing frame having a plurality `of radial arms thereon, movable' y Weights in said arms, .motor-operated i,'neansfiiforadjusting said Weights relative'to the lcenter of gravity oi; said frame and indicating means for determining the relative posi'- tions of said Weights.A

3. counterbalancng device comprising a clamping frame having a pluralityoi' hollow radial arms thereon, movable lWeights Within said arms, and means for adjusting one of said Weights While said device is in angular motion.

4L. A counterbalancing ydevice conliprising a clamping frame having la plurality of radial arms thereon, movable Weights in said arms and means for'adjnstingone ,of said Weights comprising `a viivi'otoractnated screw shaft journaled in one of said arms and operatively connected to said Weight.4

5. A counterbalancing device comprising a clamping frame having a plurality of radial arms thereon, screw shafts journaled in said arms, movable Weights operatively engaging said shafts and means for actuating one of said screw shafts to effect radial movement of its cooperative weight along its supporting arm.

(i. A counterbalancing device comprising a clamping frame having a plurality of radial arms thereon, screw shafts journalled in said arms, movable Weights operatively engaging said shafts, a motor mounted on said frame and means for operatively engaging said motor and one of said screwT shafts.

7. A counterbalancing device comprising a clamping frame having radial arms thereon, screw shafts journalled in said arms, adjusting Weights associated with said shafts, a motor secured to said frame, a plurality of gear Wheels connecting said motor and one of said shafts, and graduations on said arms adapted to indicate the relative posit-ion of said Weights,

8. A counterbalancing device comprising a clamping frame having radially oppositely extending` arms thereon, screw shafts journalled in said arms, adjusting Weights having indicators thereon operatively engaged with said shafts, a motor secured to said frame, a plurality of gear Wheels connecting said motor and one of said shafts, and graduations n said arms in alignment with said Weight indicators for determining the relative position of said Weights.

9. A counterbalancing device comprising a clamping frame adapted to be secured t0 a rotor shaft, a plurality of oppositelydisposed radially-extending hollow arms on said frame, a plurality of counterbalancing Weights adapted to move longitudinally Within said arms and means for adjusting one of said Weights to counteract the unbalanced mass in the rotor.

l0. A counterbalancing device comprising a clamping frame adapted to be secured t0 a rotor shaft and means associated therewith for counterbalancing the unbalanced mass in the rotor While the latter is subjected to angular motion, said means comprising a motor-driven screw-actuated adjusting Weight.

ll. A counterbalancing device comprising a clamping frame adjustable for different sizes of rotor shafts, a plurality of radially movable counterbalancing Weights mounted thereon, a motor secured to said frame to actuate one of said Weights and indicating means for determining the relative position thereof.

l2. A counterbalancing device comprising a clamping frame adjustable for different sizes of rotor shafts, a plurality of radially movable counterbalancing Weights mounted thereon, means for balancing said clamp on a rotor and means associated with one of said Weights for determining the degree of imbalance of said rotor, a motor secured to said frame to actuate `one of said Weights, and indicating means for determining the relative position thereof.

ln testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th day of July,

CHARLES C. BRINTON. 

